UPSpace will be temporarily unavailable tonight from 19:00 to 23:00 (South African Time) due to scheduled maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding
 

Parental and caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices on infant and young child feeding (aged zero to 24 months) in Mzimba-north district, Malawi

dc.contributor.advisorGericke, Gerda J.
dc.contributor.coadvisorMuchiri, Jane Wanjiku
dc.contributor.emailu15030688@tuks.co.zaen_ZA
dc.contributor.postgraduateKumwenda, Wezzie
dc.date.accessioned2017-11-23T07:02:10Z
dc.date.available2017-11-23T07:02:10Z
dc.date.created2017-09
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2017.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Adequate nutrition knowledge, positive attitudes and perceptions, and good practices of parents on infant and young child feeding (IYCF), among others, are essential for the optimal growth of children. Hence, the involvement of both parents in IYCF is essential. Aim: To explore and describe the involvement of both biological parents and caregivers in IYCF in Mzimba-north district, Malawi by assessing their nutrition knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices, and identifying the factors that affected their involvement. Study design: A cross sectional descriptive study employing quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Setting: Five agriculture extension planning areas in Mzimba-north district, Malawi. Sampling technique: Stratified random sampling in the quantitative domain and purposive sampling in the qualitative domain. Sample: Quantitative domain: Households [mothers (n = 154) and fathers (n = 127)] with children aged zero to 24 months and caregivers (n = 4) where the biological parents were absent. Qualitative domain: A different sample of fathers (n = 41), mothers (n = 53) and local leaders (n = 3). Methodology: Quantitative domain: Participants were stratified into three groups based on the age of their children, i.e. <six months, six to 12 and >12 to 24 months. Data were collected using modified FAO nutrition knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) questionnaires. Data were analysed using Stata version 14.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013 version. The Chi-square, Fisher’s exact and McNemar's tests were used to compare the nutrition KAP between males and females. Testing was done at 0.05 significance level. Qualitative domain: Eleven focus group discussions (FGDs): five with males and six with females, and three in-depth interviews with three local leaders were conducted using three interview guides (one for each group). Creswell’s method of data analysis was used to identify themes and sub-themes. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria (Ref no EC151204-26) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Mzuzu Agriculture Development Division, Malawi. Results: Quantitative domain: More than half of the participants knew the recommended IYCF practices. More than 80% of the participants showed positive attitudes on the appropriate IYCF practices. No significant differences were observed between the male and female participants’ mean knowledge scores and their responses on the attitude statements (P > 0.05). All participants with children <six months reported having their children breastfed both during the previous day and night. Half of the children <six months were exclusively breastfed. Poor food diversity with low consumption of animal foods was observed for children aged six to 24 months. The majority of the participants reported to have given their children food from only two food groups out of seven food groups. Qualitative domain: The participants identified the roles of mothers, fathers and local leaders in IYCF; mothers had direct roles while fathers and local leaders had supporting roles. The roles and influence of grandmothers on IYCF were also discussed. The participants identified the motivating factors and the factors limiting parental involvement in IYCF, and made recommendations on improving parental involvement in IYCF. Conclusion: Findings from the qualitative study were in support of quantitative study findings. Both parents were involved in IYCF. However, mothers had direct roles while fathers had supporting roles. Good nutrition knowledge, positive attitudes and perceptions, and poor practices on IYCF were reported. Recommendations: Participants in the FGDs made recommendations on improving parental involvement in IYCF. Recommendations are also made for future research and the implementation of IYCF practices in Mzimba-north district, Malawi.en_ZA
dc.description.availabilityUnrestricteden_ZA
dc.description.degreeMScen_ZA
dc.description.departmentFood Scienceen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationKumwenda, W 2017, Parental and caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices on infant and young child feeding (aged zero to 24 months) in Mzimba-north district, Malawi, MSc Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/63302>en_ZA
dc.identifier.otherS2017en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/63302
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria
dc.subjectUCTDen_ZA
dc.subjectInfant and young child feedingen_ZA
dc.subjectParental involvementen_ZA
dc.subjectNutrition knowledgeen_ZA
dc.titleParental and caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices on infant and young child feeding (aged zero to 24 months) in Mzimba-north district, Malawien_ZA
dc.typeDissertationen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Kumwenda_Parental_2017.pdf
Size:
8.51 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Dissertation

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: